Veteran Editor Dishes Lowdown on "Like" and "Such As"

 Barbara McNichol on Word Choice—When to Use “Like” vs “Such As"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Barbara McNichol

When it comes to word choices and deciding what to use in your writing, check out these phrases from a book I’m editing:

. . . the answers that so-called geniuses like/such as Newton seem to embody.
. . . centuries of innovations like/such as the airplane and the space shuttle have resulted.

Here’s why such as is preferred instead of like in these phrases: The word “like” implies comparison while “such as” implies inclusion. Thus, being like something doesn’t include the thing itself. If the sentence was “they’re like a fish trying to swim upstream,” then it’s a clear comparison. 

Let’s examine this more closely. In the first phrase, the author does include Newton as a so-called genius, so “such as” is the better choice. Similarly, in the second phrase, the airplane and space shuttle are examples of innovations, so they’re meant to be included.

Do you see how your intended meaning within the context of your writing helps you choose which word to use?

Your challenge: When you’re about to write “like,” ask this question: Would I include this point in a list or exclude it? That’s your clue on selecting “like” (exclude) or “such as” (include).

Need help determining which word to choose? Ask a question with your example in this blog.

NOTE

This article appeared first on  Barbara McNichol Editorial Services under the title Word Choice: When to Use “Like” vs. “Such As." 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Barbara McNichol is passionate about helping authors add power to their pen through her editing and WordShops. Go to her website www.BarbaraMcNichol.com where you can sign up for her ezine Add Power to Your Pen.

-----
 Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults, and speaks on issues of writing and publishing. Find her at http://howtodoitfrugally.com. Find the second edition of her multi award-winning The Frugal Editor: Do-it-yourself editing secrets for authors: From your query letter to final manuscript to the marketing of your bestseller. (HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for Writers). Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/writers_books.htm , where writers find lists and other helps including , Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips on the Resources for Writers page. She blogs on all things publishing (not just editing!) at her SharingingwithWriters blog. She tweets writers' resources at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo . Please tweet this post to your followers. We all need a little help with editing. (-:

One Author's Trek to Inspired Editing

Janice Lynne Lundy is a guest blogger today, an author who--it seems to me--has taken the right approach to editing. She is an inspirational speaker, interfaith spiritual director, syndicated magazine columnist, and the author of four self-help/spiritual growth books for women. Her newest is book, Your Truest Self: Embracing the Woman You Are Meant to Be. You go, Janice!




Enjoyable Editing


By Janice Lynne Lundy

I have self-published three books and sold one to a publisher. I am not a perfect writer, nor a consummate editor, but over time I have become more confident and competent in my editing. Simply put, I know what works for me and I stick to it. Carolyn suggested that I might like to share with you some of what I’ve learned along the way. What I have to offer are not “textbook” editing tips, rather, a road map for more enjoyable editing. I hope you find it helpful.

Set the Stage

Prepare your work environment to be conducive to calm. It is much more enjoyable to engage in the editing process as “your truest self”—-a person who is naturally serene—-rather than someone who is stressed. Take time to center yourself before your workday begins. Light a candle, meditate, or listen to ambient music. Do anything that helps you launch the day with ease.

Don’t rush the editing process. Give yourself as much “clean up” time as you need. Spaciousness around deadlines allows you to actually enjoy the “tweaking” process. Remember when you used to love to play with words? Consider returning to that halcyon place—at least on occasion!


A Multi-Sensory Experience

Print out your drafts. Editing on paper, versus plasma, is more reliable for locating errors. Read the piece in its entirety, and then reread some more. With each read-through, you will inevitably find errors that you missed the last time around.

Read your draft aloud. Listen for the timbre and tone of the work. Listen for the interplay of words and how they flow together—-or not. Notice when something feels “sticky” or disruptive to the flow. Likely, there is a change that needs to be made if your thoughts tumble or your tongue trips. Listen for the “weight” of a particular word. Note if one feels too light or too heavy in relation to the point you are trying to make.

“Feel” your work in its entirety. This, to me, is the most important aspect of editing: allowing yourself to feel your way through the piece. Grant your wise, intuitive-self permission to be present, to give advice when needed. Trust your heart’s wisdom.

Give your piece “simmering time.” Take time away from it, a day or two, if possible. When you return, you will see it through clear lenses, with greater insight.

Down to the Nitty Gritty

Use a thesaurus to determine the best use of key words, as well as to expand your writing vocabulary. My favorite is the Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus. Challenge and stretch your ability to express yourself in exciting, new ways.

Read the paragraphs out of sequence to seek out errors. Then do the same for each sentence in each paragraph— out of sequence. This allows you to perceive the material in a fresh, non-habituated way.

Take a bird’s eye view. Scan each paragraph from “on high” to note general (layout) errors. Do the same for the entire piece to ensure structural integrity.

The Home Stretch

Ask for the opinions of trusted others. Have a good writing buddy-—or two—-proof your work. Multiple sets of eyes can be more reliable than your own, especially if you have been working on a piece for quite some time.

Trust your editor. If you have areas of weakness, let him or her know what those vulnerabilities are. We all have blind spots and it is helpful when supportive others can offer gentle instruction, or kindly point out the error of our ways. Competent writers want to be more competent. I know I do. And because I do, I do not hesitate to raise my hand and holler, “Help!” Let the “pros” help.

When the piece feels right, stop tweaking it. Over-correcting, over-editing, can take the luster out of our creations. Enough is enough, already! Be satisfied with a job well done—not perfect—but well made.

Blessings to you on your writing journey. And don’t forget to enjoy yourself along the way!

------
Lundy is the author of Your Truest Self: Embracing the Woman You Are Meant to Be (Sorin Books). She says, "Within every woman there is an essential Truth waiting to be claimed, a Truth that will empower her to claim a spiritual life that is real and authentic, one that will nourish and sustain her every day." This book guides readers toward finding that essential truth for themselves. Drawing from her personal encounters with twelve spiritual mentors—-Frances Moore Lappé, Daphne Rose Kingma, Iyanla Vanzant, Naomi Judd, and more-—Lundy has created twelve Transformational Truths to guide and enable women to live more peaceful, confident, and open-hearted lives. It is available in bookstores nationwide or at amazon.com.

Register for her newsletter and she’ll send you her inspirational 90-page e-book, The Awakened Woman’s Guide to Life. She also blogs.

Technorati Tags:
Your Truest Self: Embracing the Woman You Are Meant to Be, janice lynne lundy, inspired editing, book editing, women's spiritual growth, nonfiction, how-to book, spiritual, writing books,
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |


-----
Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults and speaks on issues of publishing. Find her The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870. Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com, where writes will find lists and other helps on the Resources for Writers page. She blogs on all things publishing (not just editing!) at her Sharing with Writers blog.

Oh, Gawd! A Dictionary and the "W" Word?

You've seen me quote June Casagrande on this blog before. She is a fountain of knowledge and the best little grammar researcher I know. Here is one of her humor pieces I thought you'd a. enjoy and b. get lots from. Thank you for guesting, June!

Dictionaries Gone Wild
By June Casagrande

Webster's New World College Dictionary does not contain the word "McJob." American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language's fourth edition doesn't have it, either. Merriam-Webster does.

Webster's New World does not contain the term "air quotes." American Heritage doesn't have "air quotes." Merriam-Webster does.

Webster's New World does not list "dead presidents" as a synonym for money. American Heritage doesn't, either. Merriam-Webster does.

Webster's New World does not list "accidently" as an alternate spelling of "accidentally." American Heritage does, which surprises me. But Merriam-Webster's choice to report this spelling does not.

Webster's New World doesn't list "Frankenfood." Neither does American Heritage. Merriam-Webster does.

In the introduction to his 2005 Dictionary of Disagreeable English, "grumbling grammarian" Robert Hartwell Fiske examines Merriam-Webster's judgment, as reflected in its 11th collegiate edition, to make two points: 1. that dictionaries need to be more prescriptivist and less descriptivist, and 2. that Merriam-Webster are attention whores.

His first point is hogwash. But his second point is dead on.

Fiske and I would not hit it off at a cocktail party. Fiske hates language liberals, of which I'm one. But my liberalism has its limits. There's a difference between free love and prostitution. And Merriam-Webster's ability to make the NBC Nightly News website has "toot toot, hey, beep beep" written all over it.

I don't have in hand a copy of whatever press release Merriam might have used to score this segment on the home page of a nationally respected news program. But based on my experience receiving and sending press releases, I'd bet dollars to donuts that it touted some of Merriam's quirky, "fun," headline-grabbing new additions.

Fiske says of Merriam-Webster's approach: "It's a marketing strategy. It's not lexicography." I agree. A lot of people might ask, "What's wrong with that?" I have an answer.

Imagine you're the sweet, slightly mousy wallflower who has decided to try speed dating amid friends' assurances of, "Just be yourself. Guys will see how great you are." And imagine you get there and see that one of the other women is wearing a soaking-wet cropped T-shirt and starting every conversation by singing a few bars of "Do You Think I'm a Nasty Girl?"

You may not try speed dating again, but if you did, you'd definitely slap on some mascara first.

When dictionary-making takes its marketing strategy to Girls Gone Wild extremes, they lower the bar for all dictionaries.

Yes, dictionaries should be descriptivist. They should document how people use the language. But at the same time they must bear in mind the responsibility that comes with the job. Once they "document" a usage, they have, inadvertently or not, sanctioned it.

This is a responsibility that, before we reached the apex of our our cola-wars culture, they handled quite well. But with Merriam-Webster setting the terms of the competition, that may not be the case much longer.

Merriam-Webster seems to operate on a, "Hey, we're just reporting it, we're not saying it's right" philosophy. But they know perfectly well that, inadvertently, they are saying it's right. They should stop cheating and get back in the ring with the serious lexicographers who compete for our dollars by aspiring to quality through editorial and academic integrity.

-------
June Casagrande is author of Mortal Syntax: 101 Language Choices That Will Get You Clobbered by the Grammar Snobs -- Even If You're Right. She blogs at www.ConjugateVisits.blogspot.com.

Technorati Tags:
june casagrande, mortal syntax, grammar snobs are great big meanies, carolyn howard-johnson, the frugal editor, dictionaries, meriam-webster, American Heritage, 2005 Dictionary of Disagreeable English, robert hartwell fiske,
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |


-----
Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults and speaks on issues of publishing. Find her The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870. Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com, where writes will find lists and other helps on the Resources for Writers page. She blogs on all things publishing (not just editing!) at her Sharing with Writers blog.